Cross Country Trip Day 10 (Saturday): Orem- Tie Dying and Fireworks

We got back to Grandma's and Grandpa's after the parade and ate lunch. Then all the cousins started playing together. They had a blast!

Zoë holding Peter

Zoë and Jack had so much to talk about, and spent a lot of time together.

The swing set was a favorite spot for all the kids.

Zoë, Jack and Andrew

Molly holding Peter

Travis playing with Astrid and Megan making her giggle.

Kate jumping on the couch with Greg spotting her.

Uncle James and Grandpa snoozing on the couch.

After a run to the store to get supplies for tie-dying, and after Travis and Molly got me a soda (migraine) and some fireworks for the evening, we got the (finally!) dry t-shirts out and let the kids color them.

Jack loved yellow and red and put them in stripes on his shirt.

Zoë used tons of dye, and got every inch covered. She had a plan and stuck to it.

Andrew originally wanted flames, but went for more colors in a specific pattern.

So excited to make these shirts!

Ella carefully adding color to her shirt.

Annie sad and frustrated that she had to wait to do her shirt.

Miranda and Megan got started on theirs, but because we only had four bottles of dye, it was hard to get all the kids working on them when they were ready.

Waiting for colors

Adding more color, and more color and more color

Splashes and dots and squirts of color. Nica's technique was messy but effective.

Nathan did NOT want to touch the messy colors. He was happy with picking "red and yellow" and letting me put the dye on for him. Micah was excited to add his own dye (how did we miss getting gloves on him?!) He added LOTS of red, and a little bit of yellow.

Coloring shirts, and cleaning up.

This whole tie-dye idea was Amy's and the kids had so much fun! Thanks for all the work in getting, coordinating and making these fun shirts!!

Micah adding more red.

Grandpa brought Astrid out to see what was going on.

Ella climbed the tree as we started cleaning up t-shirts.

Astrid, who was walking up to five steps at a time, still preferred to crawl.

Just as we finished putting the last plastic-wrapped t-shirt into a box to sit overnight, the Livermore Bailey's arrived!

Josh with his mom, Sarah- who was holding Peter

Sarah and Peter

Anna loved holding the babies! Astrid was content to be carted around.

Josh, Jack and Andrew

Nica with Porter

Porter started climbing this tree, so....

Nica decided she could, too.

Peter, Anna, Eliza and Claire just hanging in the backyard.

The three Bailey Brothers, Brett, Allan, and Travis

Kate loved the flowers. She only picked one...

Anna is holding Peter. He's so content and looks so happy

Annie and Amy

Nate is such a chatterbox! He is so friendly. He reminds me a lot of Miranda. We had some great conversations together.

Peter smiling!

Annie, Claire and Nica on the glider. The older girls were great playing with the younger kids.

This was Brett's Tonka truck! The kids are still playing with them.

You know how difficult it is to get just your own kids to look at the camera and smile. Well, hand them toys, add another dozen cousins and then try to get them to smile for the camera! Here are 18 of the 19 grandchildren of Carl and Claudia Bailey (Astrid went home to bed- she was cranky; Amy is holding Kate, or she wouldn't have stayed in the picture).

Except for Peter being with the oldest, the kids are in birth order:
Anna holding Peter, Joshua, Zoë, Claire, Eliza, Megan, Jack, Luke, Andrew, Miranda, Ella, Nica, Micah, Annie, Porter, Nathan, and Kate (Astrid would have been at the end, just before Peter)

Goofy Shots!

The kids loved the glow-flags that Aunt Becky got them

Annie with a glowflag in her hair

Even Peter loved his glow-flag.

Ella's glowing hair.

Megan's glowing mustache

Natey enjoying his glow-flag

Kate was exhausted. She had been bathed, and was snuggled, and so ready for bed.

Glowstick in Miranda's hair

Her flag matched her shirt! And I absolutely love the smile on her face. Love that girl, Miranda!

It got dark enough that Travis started to light off the pack of fireworks. Jack asked if he could light one. After getting permission, Travis helped Jack light one of the fountains. Then the other cousins and our girls wanted to light them. Travis was really good with the kids, and helped them light the fireworks. We also enjoyed the major neighborhood fireworks- the full on kind!

Mica and Megan discussing something. Travis handing out snaps. Andrew and Luke throwing them down.

Micah, Natey and Nica. Nathan got a little worried about the noise from the fireworks, and Nica took him under her wing.

So sweet!

Greg, Amy and Annie watching the fireworks.

Molly & James with their dog, Danika.

They looked comfy, and probably had the best view!

Eliza waiting for the show.

Andrew looks so much like his dad to me!

These fireworks are legal here! The neighbors were kind enough to buy them so we could enjoy their pyrotechnic show.

Josh, Anna, Brett, Sarah, Grandma and Grandpa moved to the other side of the street to watch the fireworks.

I love Josh's smile. I just wish we could have more time with him- he was off to LaCross Camp the next morning.

Anna, who is a beautiful young woman, was also off to camp.

Sarah was a good sport about me blinding her with the camera in her face.

Grandpa watching the light show.

Grandma watching the same ones.

Uncle Travis helping Jack light his first firework.

Megan's new mustache.

Claire lighting a fountain.

Eliza striking her match.

 

Eliza making the dash after the wick caught.

Zoë wasn't the only one who had some difficulty lighting the matches.

Megan had to strike a few matches.

Andrew was careful, but excited to light a firework.

Ella was excited, too. Travis shone his phone flashlight so Ella could see to light the wick.

Josh got to light one, too.

Anna helped Porter light his fountain.

Micah was so ready to light his, but he didn't have any shoes on, so he was sent back again and again to get them. When he finally did get his shoes on, Travis helped him light the fountain.

It got late too quickly, and we drove the girls home to Becky's house where they tumbled into bed.

So, to show that I was there, I took a picture of myself. I figured it was only fair to blind myself!

I like the expression on Travis' face.